Marine Protected Areas in Thailand: A Legal Study of Compliance with International Obligations

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as specialized area-based management tools, are widely recognized not only as tools for biodiversity conservation but also as mechanisms for enhancing ecosystem resilience to climate change. However, in Thailand, these legal frameworks do not adequately consider how to integrate climate resilience, despite being recognized as an adaptive tool by international legal instruments. Consequently, to recommend concreting MPA measures, this article explores MPA legal measures and assesses how these measures enhance the resilience of such areas in responding to climate change. This research also examines how international instruments, including UNCLOS, CBD, UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, require states to implement their obligations to adopt the laws. The study found that Thailand has several legal acts for MPAs that support conservation objectives, but important elements of a “climate-resilient MPA” are still missing. These include clear criteria for levels of protection, the establishment of connected networks, and binding mechanisms for cross-agency coordination. This article argues that legal reform is needed to enhance both consistency and effectiveness. It recommends that agencies such as the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources should take the lead in strengthening the adaptive capacity of Thai MPAs in line with international legal measures on climate change.